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Free & Equal Elections has been communicating with likeminded groups across the nation who are striving to break the two-party stranglehold on our electoral process. We are always on the lookout for solutions to the problems that plague ballot access for Independent and Third Party candidates.
In Pierce County Washington, a solution has been found in Instant Runoff Voting, also known as Rank Choice Voting (RCV).
RCV is a voting system in which voters rank candidates in an order of preference. If no candidate is the first preference of a majority of voters, the candidate with the fewest number of first preference rankings is eliminated and that candidate’s ballots are redistributed at full value to the remaining candidates according to the next ranking on each ballot. This process is repeated until one candidate obtains a majority of votes among candidates not eliminated.
In November 2008, Pierce County held its first ever RCV election. The highest profile race for County Executive had four high quality candidates. Two Democrats, one Republican and one third party candidate. All four were sitting elected public officials. There were several debates featuring all four candidates. The debates focused on the issues. There was no discussion of “wasted votes” or “whether or not any particular candidate had a chance of winning.”
When the first choices were counted, the Republican received 35% of the first choices. The eventual winning Democrat came in second in terms of first choices, but won the election by receiving more transfers from the losing Democrat. There was little negative campaigning, and the third party candidate came in fourth with 15% of the first choices, a good showing for such a high profile race.
Now, the Democrats and Republicans who control the County Executive Board want to make sure that they do not have to face challenges from Independents and Third Party candidates. They are backing a ballot proposal that would eliminate IRV voting, and go back to a system where they do not have to compete on a level playing field.
Pierce County Washington is just one locale where the Democrats and Republicans are trying to maintain their vise-grip on our electoral process.
For more information on the Peirce County Washington battle to “Vote No on 3″ log on to:
http://www.protectvoterchoice.com
Another great source of information about IRV and other electoral reforms is Fair Vote. You can visit them at:
http://www.fairvote.org
Free & Equal Elections urges the voters of Pierce County Washington to “Vote NO! on 3″ and reject the Democrats and Republicans attempts to eliminate the level playing field that Rank Choice Voting creates.
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The voters who understand the issue are livid. Other need an education NOW.